KLM to make first longhaul biofuel flight

A KLM 777-200 will operate a long haul biofuel flight. (Rob Finlayson)

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will operate the world’s first commercial long haul service to be partially powered by biofuel on June 20.

The Dutch airline will operate a Boeing 777-200ER on flight KL705 from Amsterdam to Rio de Janeiro on a blend of jetfuel and fuel refined from used cooking oil. The flight will coincide with the Rio+20 sustainable development conference, and will have Dutch state secretary of infrastructure and environment Joop Atsma as a passenger on board.

In June last year KLM operated the first commercial service powered by biofuel.